Walker Park Pond restoration efforts proving successful

A regular fisherman at the Walker Park pond -- James Moore -- was casting his line at several different spots Wednesday morning.

He nabbed, then released a couple of smaller catfish as he waited for a whooper to bite.

"There's some big ones in here," Moore said.

Moore was one of about a half dozen folks fishing at the pond Wednesday morning.

He noted the water is in better condition these days, and the new fountain pump makes the fish bite a little more.

The pond Moore was enjoying is missing something this summer than the previous few -- scores of dead fish floating on the banks.

Parks and Recreation director Elroy Brown said there have been no fish kills thus far this summer.

Those smelly, unsanitary incidents have plagued the pond for the last several summers, some years on multiple occasions.

"I think this is the first time in four or five years" that there have been no fish kills, Brown said. "We're pleased that what we're doing is working."

Earlier this summer, the city stocked the pond with 200 pounds of algae-eating Nile Tilapia and didn't allow fishing afterward for 30 days to give the fish an opportunity "to do what they're going to do" as Brown puts it.

The city also installed a pump to bring the fountain back to life, another contributor to the lack of fish kills, Brown said.

"Away With Geese" devices were installed in the pond to chase away geese as well.

Sam Henry of the Arkansas Game and Fish told Brown that the pond wouldn't clear up overnight, but to stick to the process and things will begin to get better.

Brown believes the condition of the pond is ahead of schedule.

"I realize some might think we're spending too much, but at the same time I'm excited to see that we don't have a 55-gallon drum of dead fish," Brown said.

He noted the city may put in another fountain next year and plans to continue stocking Tilapia for the next 3-5 years.

"With this particular plan, we can only see things getting better," Brown said.

The fountain and Tilapia were the least expensive of the city's options to fix the pond, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish.

The fountain expense was $4,864.30, while the fish cost about $1,400.

The more expensive option was draining the pond, cleaning it out and adding aerator pumps similar to those used by fish farmers.

"I'm really appreciative to the mayor for giving us the tools to do what we need to get it done," Brown said. "I realize some get a little skittish when they begin to look at the budget and see what we're spending, but if you see what we're spending, we're getting results. That's the main thing. Our citizens deserve a clean park; they deserve to come to a clean park where there's not dead fish. They deserve to be able to be safe in the park so we're just excited about the progress that the park is making."

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com